Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the presentations which were positive. Ornua has dealt with the dairy industry. Dairy farmers have had their own difficulties. It is important that the bank does not apply too much pressure until the market starts to recover and give the people who have made huge investments a chance to come back into the system again. Questions we are often asked is whether money is being made available for land purchase and if banks are prepared to lend over a longer term. That younger farmers have got involved in young farmer schemes, leasing land and doing deals with older farmers is welcome. I would welcome the view of the witnesses on that issue.

It is very important that we help young farmers.

Deputy Penrose sparked a thought in my head. Can the banks draw down money from the European Investment Bank and lend it to farmers at a lower rate? That is important. Generally, a good many points have been covered and it is very positive.

Many older farmers would speak to us from time to time about the difficulties they have when dealing with banks, particularly given the increased use of machines to lodge cash and so forth. It is vitally important that personal contact is maintained, particularly in smaller rural towns where some older farmers may not be used to dealing with machines.